MAHA activists urge Trump against promoting coal to power energy-hungry AI data centers

Activists from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement are criticizing President Donald Trump's policy promoting coal to power artificial intelligence data centers. A letter, signed by nearly 200 activists including former Kennedy campaign staffers Zen Honeycutt and Charles Eisenstein, was sent to Trump and other Cabinet officials. It expresses concern over a 2025 executive order that aimed to boost coal for data centers and calls for the administration to consider renewable energy options like solar and geothermal.

The MAHA movement, which has previously supported Trump, voiced frustration over his administration's environmental deregulation and embrace of pesticides. The activists emphasize that American AI leadership should not come at the cost of increased health burdens for children, citing concerns about coal ash, land use, and pollution from data centers. They also requested transparent review processes for data center locations and power sourcing, along with respect for existing environmental review requirements.

Data centers have emerged as a significant political issue, drawing criticism from voters across the political spectrum regarding their impact on electricity bills, water supplies, and environmental pollution. While Trump advocates for data centers as crucial for AI competitiveness and economic growth, a video mentioned in the article highlights that the Pennsylvania governor has signed an order establishing stricter requirements for data centers in that state.